Taking Heart In Tough Times Joanna Macy
Joanna Macy spoke at Dartmouth College on Wedneday September 27th at 7:00 pm. Ms Macy is a scholar of Buddhism, general systems theory, and deep ecology. A woman of enormous intelligence, wit, and humor, she is a leading voice for peace, justice, and ecological well-being.
Joanna spoke about the "Great Turning," a concept she developed for the "the shift from the Industrial Growth Society to a life-sustaining civilization."She served to be a great inspiration for Dick and Jeanne Roy who started the Northwest Earth Institute in Portland Oregon. Joanna's talk was sponsored by the Vermont Earth Institute with VEI board members and supporters in attendance as well as people from the Dartmouth community.
Joanna spoke to a standing room only audience captivating the audience with a lively and animated discussion about big picture issues such as our place in the universe. She spoke elequently about how many of us have become elements of nature, fighting for it's survival, as opposed to people trying to save nature.
Below are notes from Henry:
Make decisions for 7 generations into the future.
a.. Decisions are not made for short term grain or personal
aggrandizement so there is no ego involved..
b.. In fact you will never see that outcome so there is no risk of
failure
The GDP driven economy or Industrialized Growth Economy is by
definition doomed to failure. It is predicated on ever escalating growth and that can not be sustainable.
TO RECOGNIZE THE GREAT TURNING:
1.. Holding actions will slow down the damaging ecological process. This includes legal action, physical action to block an action, boycotts and other activities. It is not enough because if we were completely successful the problem would not go away.
2.. Develop strategies: land use plans, local food, housing, living
rearrangements, monetary systems, teaching protocols etc. This by its self also will not keep problems away.
3.. Shift in thinking: become deeply rooted, centered in the
heart-mind. Change the way we value our selves and our earth.
The three points above feed on one another and reinforce each other and together the turning will be successful.
The turning is happening in our time and will be ranked along with the industrial age etc. It is not reported in the press. The member of the world are now seeing the world as a WHOLE and integrated. We are all occupants of the same lifeboat.
MAKING THE PROCESS EASY:
1.. Come from gratitude: Practice gratitude of the sun that gives
light for each of us to see the others face, for songs of the birds, for the changing of the clouds, for the miracle of birth and regeneration, etc. the wealth that comes from these gratitudes is ever abundant and can not be taken away. The wealth from consumerism is always giving way to what ever someone else
has that you do not.
2.. Don't be afraid of the dark: If electricity becomes inoperative
due to oil and energy crises, embrace it and allow it to draw you together with others. The same can be said of species losses, environmental losses.
3.. Dare to vision: Nothing can happen with out being envisioned
first. Do it with groups.
4.. Link arms: Do it together- it needs the synergy of hands and
minds working together supporting one another. This is not a loner's activity.
5.. Act your age! . Just how old are you and do you behave that way?
You will find it useful to think of all the atoms of your body having been around for the 4.5 Billion years since the earth was created. Then you can stand up as a proper 4.5 billion old person and speak with authority. You could even assume that since the universe has been around for 13.7 billion years that that is how old you are.
All of these steps takes the pressure of one's personal success or
failure and make you part of the process of the great turning.
You can find out more information about Joanna at:
